Cast out, Martris and a small band of trusted friends are forced to flee to a neighbouring kingdom where he believes they can regroup and plot their retaliation. With only a handful of loyal colleagues to support him, he must seek retribution and restore his father's honour.
But if the living are arrayed against him, Martris must call on a different set of allies: the ranks of the dead. The Summoner is an epic, engrossing tale of loss and revenge, of life and afterlife - and the thin line between them. It will appeal to all fans of Robin Hobb, Lois McMaster Bujold and Terry Goodkind.
The Summoner marks the debut of a stunning new talent in the fantasy firmament, and the beginning of an epic story that will leave readers gasping for more.
"A gripping quest narrative made all the more atmospheric by the imminent presence of a shadow world of spirits and dark magic. Just when you think you know where things are heading, Martin pulls another ace from her sleeve. A rich, evocative story with vivid, believable characters moving through a beautifully realized world with all the quirks, depths and levels of a real place. A terrific read!"
- AJ Hartley, author of The Mask of Atreus and On the Fifth Day
Gail Zehner Martin was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Grove City College with a B.A. in History, and earned an M.B.A. in marketing and management information systems from The Pennsylvania State University.
After nearly 20 years as a marketing executive for corporations and nonprofit organizations, she started her own consulting firm, DreamSpinner Communications. She also writes feature articles on a variety of topics for regional and national magazines. In addition to writing and consulting, Ms. Martin teaches public relations writing and public speaking for the University of North Carolina - Charlotte. She is married and has three children, a Himalayan cat and a golden retriever.
She discovered her passion for science fiction, fantasy and ghost stories in elementary school. The very first story she ever wrote -at age five- was about a vampire. Her favorite TV shows as a preschooler were Dark Shadows and Lost in Space. At age 14, she decided to become a writer, and launched a fanzine when she was in college. She enjoys attending science fiction/fantasy conventions, Renaissance fairs and living history sites.
